Tennessee also removed the interim tag from CEO Steve Underwood, who will lead the search for a new general manager and perhaps new coach. The decision not to retain Webster helps explain why the Titans have yet to reach out to coaching candidates, although there is still a slim possibility interim coach Mike Mularkey lands the permanent job. With Marcus Mariota, talent of defense and the No. 1 pick, Tennessee will be an attractive destination for GM candidates

_________________“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly

Browns named former Mets vice president of player development and scouting Paul DePodesta executive vice president.

That is not a typo. The Browns are bringing in a baseball executive who is perhaps most famous for his time with the Athletics which was chronicled in the book Moneyball. DePodesta also was the Dodgers GM for two seasons in the mid-2000s and had been with the Mets since 2010. DePodesta will be above executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown on the flowchart, who himself is a former lawyer. Cleveland is going all in on analytics in an attempt to turn the franchise around.

_________________“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly

Tue Jan 05, 2016 12:05 pm

Mothman

Defensive Tackle

Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:48 amPosts: 37357Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

dead_poet wrote:

Browns named former Mets vice president of player development and scouting Paul DePodesta executive vice president.

That is not a typo. The Browns are bringing in a baseball executive who is perhaps most famous for his time with the Athletics which was chronicled in the book Moneyball. DePodesta also was the Dodgers GM for two seasons in the mid-2000s and had been with the Mets since 2010. DePodesta will be above executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown on the flowchart, who himself is a former lawyer. Cleveland is going all in on analytics in an attempt to turn the franchise around.

Wow, that's an interesting development! Thanks for the news. It will be interesting to see how this works out.

It is a mild surprise only becaise Tampa Bay was having a decent season up until December. Still Lovie and Leslie's times of running an effective defense are clearly over. Good move for Tampa.

Their defense finished in the top 10. They didn't fare as well in scoring defense but they seemed to be making progress and they do play in a division with some teams that can really score.

I think they have an impatient ownership group that's going to turn them into the NFC South version of the Browns or Raiders if they're not careful. The Bucs have no gone through 3 head coaches in 7 years.

I'm not a huge Lovie Smith fan but he's not a bad coach and that team was making progress. You have to give a coach some time to turn a bad team around.

Thu Jan 07, 2016 6:46 pm

Demi

Commissioner

Joined: Sun Dec 12, 2004 4:24 pmPosts: 23761

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

Quote:

While Dirk Koetter's offense showed plenty of promise with Winston as the centerpiece, Smith's defense wasn't any better than the 2-14 unit he presided over in 2014. Smith released Darrelle Revis, traded former first-round safety Mark Barron, hand-picked his own secondary and oversaw the two worst pass defenses in franchise history.

Various commentators seem to think that Smith was pushed out to make room for elevating current Bucs OC/quarterback whisperer Dirk Koetter, who is otherwise in danger of being lured away to Tennessee or Miami or somewhere.

Presuming that's right, what's the over/under on the number of websites and periodicals that will headline their stories on the HC hiring with "WELCOME BACK, KOETTER"?

Various commentators seem to think that Smith was pushed out to make room for elevating current Bucs OC/quarterback whisperer Dirk Koetter, who is otherwise in danger of being lured away to Tennessee or Miami or somewhere.

Presuming that's right, what's the over/under on the number of websites and periodicals that will headline their stories on the HC hiring with "WELCOME BACK, KOETTER"?

I had to google that to understand the reference.

You must be old.

Thu Jan 07, 2016 10:02 pm

Rieux

Franchise Player

Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 2:48 pmPosts: 439Location: St. Paul

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

DK Sweets wrote:

You must be old.

Ouch!

I don't know if I'm proving you right or wrong by telling you that I was born during the run of that show. I'm, uh, younger than Matt Hasselbeck....

I sure thought "Welcome Back, Kotter" was, and remains, a common pop-cultural reference. In any case, sportswriters tend to be either (1) old enough and/or (2) pop-culture savvy enough to be familiar with the show. Or at least it seems that way to me.

Sat Jan 09, 2016 12:20 am

Raptorman

Hall of Fame Candidate

Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:23 pmPosts: 3189Location: Sebastian, FL

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

Mothman wrote:

dead_poet wrote:

Browns named former Mets vice president of player development and scouting Paul DePodesta executive vice president.

That is not a typo. The Browns are bringing in a baseball executive who is perhaps most famous for his time with the Athletics which was chronicled in the book Moneyball. DePodesta also was the Dodgers GM for two seasons in the mid-2000s and had been with the Mets since 2010. DePodesta will be above executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown on the flowchart, who himself is a former lawyer. Cleveland is going all in on analytics in an attempt to turn the franchise around.

Wow, that's an interesting development! Thanks for the news. It will be interesting to see how this works out.

I don't know if I'm proving you right or wrong by telling you that I was born during the run of that show. I'm, uh, younger than Matt Hasselbeck....

I sure thought "Welcome Back, Kotter" was, and remains, a common pop-cultural reference. In any case, sportswriters tend to be either (1) old enough and/or (2) pop-culture savvy enough to be familiar with the show. Or at least it seems that way to me.

I hope it was clear that I was try to be good natured with that jab.

I think you're right that most writers would get that reference and run with it.

Rams to LA. Raiders staying put (for now) likely with extra $100 million towards new stadium. Chargers likely to opt-in with Rams in Inglewood. Thankfully Minnesota got this done. I feel awful for St. Louis & San Diego fans. We'll see if LA fans support these teams.

###

The Rams and Chargers are expected to be approved for relocation to Inglewood, Cal.Stan Kroenke's project is taking the day, with Dean Spanos and Mark Davis' Carson proposal dissolving as soon as the bargaining began. The expectation is that Davis will receive extra NFL loan money as he seeks a new stadium in Oakland, a development that is sure to gall Rams and Chargers fans. Official word could come as early as Tuesday evening. It's an exciting day for football fans in the nation's second-largest market, but an awful betrayal for San Diego and St. Louis.

_________________“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly

Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:00 pm

fiestavike

Hall of Fame Candidate

Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:03 amPosts: 3368

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

dead_poet wrote:

Rams to LA. Raiders staying put (for now) likely with extra $100 million towards new stadium. Chargers likely to opt-in with Rams in Inglewood. Thankfully Minnesota got this done. I feel awful for St. Louis & San Diego fans. We'll see if LA fans support these teams.

###

The Rams and Chargers are expected to be approved for relocation to Inglewood, Cal.Stan Kroenke's project is taking the day, with Dean Spanos and Mark Davis' Carson proposal dissolving as soon as the bargaining began. The expectation is that Davis will receive extra NFL loan money as he seeks a new stadium in Oakland, a development that is sure to gall Rams and Chargers fans. Official word could come as early as Tuesday evening. It's an exciting day for football fans in the nation's second-largest market, but an awful betrayal for San Diego and St. Louis.

I think there are still veiled threats that Davis could move to the San Antonio market and that he owns a big piece of land between Austin and SA. I'm not sure I want that to happen because of all the lowlifes that would be likely to follow the team out here.

Wed Jan 13, 2016 7:02 am

Crax

All Pro Elite Player

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:48 amPosts: 1780Location: Utah

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

Quote:

@UncleChapsDone deal. Hue Jackson will be the next head coach of the Cleveland #Browns.

Over/Under on being there longer than 2 years?

Wed Jan 13, 2016 1:01 pm

Cliff

Site Admin

Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 5:51 pmPosts: 8227Location: Kentucky

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

Crax wrote:

Quote:

@UncleChapsDone deal. Hue Jackson will be the next head coach of the Cleveland #Browns.

Over/Under on being there longer than 2 years?

He was pretty good as Wolverine but I don't know how I feel about him as a head coach. Wait ... never mind.

_________________"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson

Wed Jan 13, 2016 1:46 pm

Crax

All Pro Elite Player

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:48 amPosts: 1780Location: Utah

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

Cliff wrote:

Crax wrote:

Quote:

@UncleChapsDone deal. Hue Jackson will be the next head coach of the Cleveland #Browns.

Over/Under on being there longer than 2 years?

He was pretty good as Wolverine but I don't know how I feel about him as a head coach. Wait ... never mind.

It took you a minute to realize it was the Browns we were talking about? Not even wolverine could last there. Last 4 coaches lasted 2 years or less with Chudzinski lasting only 1 season.

It'll be interesting to see what Chip can do with a quarterback that more closely seems to fit his offensive scheme and a pretty good running back (if he can come back healthy). Defense may need some work after all the turnover but I'm not sure there are a lot of missing pieces. The GM-Coach dynamic there may be interesting to watch. Baalke is kind of a power-hungry dude and Chip seems to have a lot of opinions on how his roster is constructed (he won't have control of the final 53 this time around). It'll be fun to watch their offseason moves and the draft.

_________________“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly

Thu Jan 14, 2016 2:26 pm

Cliff

Site Admin

Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2004 5:51 pmPosts: 8227Location: Kentucky

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

It feels like ole Chip just CRUSHED the Eagles for years to come and has moved on. I'd be so pissed if I were an Eagles fan.

_________________"Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson

Thu Jan 14, 2016 3:20 pm

Mothman

Defensive Tackle

Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2003 11:48 amPosts: 37357Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

Cliff wrote:

It feels like ole Chip just CRUSHED the Eagles for years to come and has moved on. I'd be so pissed if I were an Eagles fan.

I would too... and I'm somewhat surprised that SF would hire him after that.

Thu Jan 14, 2016 4:29 pm

Crax

All Pro Elite Player

Joined: Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:48 amPosts: 1780Location: Utah

Re: Notable 2016 Offseason Moves

I do think Chip overall is a good coach. I do not think he is a good guy to be in charge of everything, plus that's too much for one guy IMHO to do these days. I do know what his role is going to be with the 49ers, but he may be able to resurrect Kaepernick.